Journal Club
Discussing interesting papers in the world of Pain Medicine
Each month, we shall upload a reference to a scientific paper published within the past year, including the online link to access and read it. Papers chosen will be available through open access or through NHS or institutional libraries.
Discussion Framework
Evidence-based information plays a critical role in clinical practice decisions. Secondary sources are often unreliable; it’s up to the student to critically assess peer-reviewed research literature. We are using the framework suggested by Riegelman (Riegelman RK. Studying a study and testing a test. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2005) to provoke thought and discussion about the paper.
After reading the paper
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Say what the purpose of the study was.
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Summarise the important points in the article, paying particular attention to the methods that were used.
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Briefly describe the main results.
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Highlight the strengths and weaknesses; how could the study have been improved?
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Did the authors achieve what they set out to achieve?
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Describe the implications of the results and whether you think they may or may not influence practice beneficially or adversely.
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If relevant, say what further research might be carried out.
Follow up
The month following each release, we will publish a brief resume of our personal views on the paper. If you would like to submit comments or views about the paper for posting here or in the Faculty's other publications, please contact us.
This month’s Journal club paper: May 2021
Published online 2021 Mar 18. doi: 10.1016/S2665-9913(21)00036-9
Surgical microdiscectomy versus transforaminal epidural steroid injection in patients with sciatica secondary to herniated lumbar disc (NERVES): a phase 3, multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation
Martin John Wilby, Ashley Best, Eifiona Wood, Girvan Burnside, Emma Bedson, Hannah Short, Dianne Wheatley, Daniel Hill-McManus, Manohar Sharma, Simon Clark, Ganesan Baranidharan, Cathy Price, Richard Mannion, Peter J Hutchinson, Dyfrig A Hughes, Anthony Marson, Paula R Williamson
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(21)00036-9/fulltext#seccestitle10
What did you think about this paper?
Email the Faculty to share any comments or views.
Previous Journal club paper: April 2021
Pain. 2020 Sep; 161(1): S3–S13.
Published online 2020 Aug 19. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001849
PMCID: PMC7434212
PMID: 33090735
John D. Loeser Award Lecture: Size does matter, but it isn't everything: the challenge of modest treatment effects in chronic pain clinical trials
Shannon M. Smith, Maurizio Fava, Mark P. Jensen, Omar B. Mbowe, Michael P. McDermott, Dennis C. Turk and Robert H. Dworkina.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7434212/
Previous Journal club paper: March 2021
Pain. 2020 Sep; 161(9): 2068–2078.
Published online 2020 May 19. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001928
PMCID: PMC7431140
PMID: 32453139
Tanezumab for chronic low back pain: a randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled, phase 3 study of efficacy and safety
John D. Markman, Robert B. Bolash, Timothy E. McAlindon, Alan J. Kivitz, Manuel Pombo-Suarez, Seiji Ohtori, Frank W. Roemer, David J. Li, Lars Viktrup, Candace Bramson, Christine R. West, and Kenneth M. Verburg
